Melissa Auf der Maur - Out of Our Minds

 

Part of a multi-media art project that includes a film, a graphic novel and numerous slightly flaky blog posts, Auf der Maur is aiming high with Out of Our Minds (apparently it's a concept record about Vikings too) but somehow the music manages to transcend these unwieldy conceits through the sheer impact of its songs. Six-minute leviathan Isis Speaks plays off a hypnotic rock groove against affecting melodies – underpinned by MaDM's nuanced yet pop-savvy vocal performance; instrumental track Lead Horse brings the jams in fine style; and Meet Me on the Darkside is a smouldering romantic standout that rides a dominating grunge riff before peaking with a delicious harpsichord breakdown. In fact there's precious little filler here: Glenn Danzig even shows up for an epic rock duet and album closer 1000 Years is earthshakingly intense. With Out of Our Minds Auf der Maur has definitively made the transition from alt-rock alumni to serious solo artist. [Mark Shukla]